Sir Mick, 72, revealed: “The series is a way to honour him. His presence in the series will be a way to pay our respects, a positive way to remember and honour his life.

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“David was a very dear friend and his death saddened me very much.” A source added: “Mick was shocked by David’s death and was desperate to honour him. They went back a long way and had a lot of fun times.

“This episode was due to revolve around Bowie in 1973. It has taken on a new poignancy since he died.

“As executive producer and creator, Mick felt it was right to be a lasting tribute to David. There have been changes and a tribute Mick has written will be screened during the end credits. Bowie was at the height of his powers during the Aladdin Sane and Diamond Dogs albums.”

The episode also features colourful characters from the New York scene then, like Andy Warhol, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.

US actor Noah, 37 – tipped to play Bowie in a movie about his life – said: “I was so thrilled and intimidated to film this before his passing, now honoured and saddened that it airs in memoriam.”

Director Martin Scorsese added: “Bowie was the sound and the image of the 1970s. His transformation, his androgyny, his transgression of every rule of art and iconography. “

Author Christopher Andersen claimed in his Jagger biography that the two rockers enjoyed a romance.

Bowie’s ex-wife Angie also claimed she caught the pair in bed – though both stars laughed off the rumours.

Vinyl – which also stars Jagger’s son, James, 30 – starts on Sky Atlantic on February 15. The Bowie episode will go out next month.